Screen supporting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A screen supporting apparatus includes a supporting member and a movable assembly. The supporting member includes a base and an upright supporting rod disposed fixedly on and above the base. The movable assembly includes a mounting member disposed on the supporting rod and including a slideway unit. The sliding member has two spaced-apart engaging portions slidable within the slideway unit of the mounting member to adjust the inclination angle of the sliding member relative to the mounting member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No.12/985,505, filed on Jan. 6, 2011, for which priority is claimed under35 U.S.C. §120; and this application claims priority of Application No.099217142 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Sep. 3, 2010 under 35 U.S.C. §119;the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention related to a screen supporting apparatus, and moreparticularly to a screen supporting apparatus operable for adjusting theinclination angle of a screen to be supported.

2. Description of the Related Art

Taiwanese Utility Model Patent Number M336654 discloses a conventionalscreen supporting apparatus, which includes an upright supporting rod, amovable member sleeved movably on the supporting rod, and first andsecond supporting arms connected respectively and pivotally to twoopposite sides of the movable member for supporting two screens,respectively.

The aforesaid conventional screen supporting apparatus has adisadvantage. That is, the inclination angle of each of the screenscannot be adjusted, thereby resulting in inconvenience during use of theconventional screen supporting apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a screen supporting apparatusthat can be operated to adjust the inclination angle of a screen to besupported.

Accordingly, a screen supporting apparatus of this invention includes asupporting member and a movable assembly. The supporting member includesa base and an upright supporting rod disposed fixedly on and above thebase. The movable assembly includes a mounting member disposed on thesupporting rod and including a slideway unit. The sliding member has twospaced-apart engaging portions slidable within the slideway unit of themounting member to adjust the inclination angle of the sliding memberrelative to the mounting member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the first preferred embodiment ofa screen supporting apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a partly exploded rear perspective view of the first preferredembodiment, illustrating a connection between a mounting member and asliding member;

FIG. 4 is a partly exploded front perspective view of the firstpreferred embodiment, illustrating a connection between the slidingmember and two side arms;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic side views of the first preferredembodiment, illustrating how two sliding rods are moved respectivelywithin two slide slots for adjusting the inclination angle of a movableconnector;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the first preferred embodiment, illustratingvertical movement of a movable assembly;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are top views of the first preferred embodiment,illustrating pivoting movement of two side arms relative to the slidingmember;

FIG. 10 is another front view of the first preferred embodiment,illustrating movement of the two movable connectors relative to the sidearms;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of ascreen supporting apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the third preferred embodiment ofa screen supporting apparatus according to this invention; and

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the third preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail inconnection with the preferred embodiments, it should be noted thatsimilar elements and structures are designated by like referencenumerals throughout the entire disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the first preferred embodiment of ascreen supporting apparatus according to this invention includes asupporting member 1, a movable assembly 2, two side arms 3, two movableconnectors 4, and a wire collector 5.

The supporting member 1 includes a base 11 and an upright supporting rod12 disposed fixedly on and above the base 11. The movable assembly 2includes a mounting member 21 disposed on the supporting rod 11, and asliding member 22 disposed on the mounting member 21 in such a mannerthat the inclination angle of the sliding member 22 relative to themounting member 21 is adjustable. The mounting member 21 includes aslideway unit. In this embodiment, the supporting rod 12 is vertical,and the slideway unit includes a pair of curved upper and lowerslideways 211 each having an upper end 2111 and a lower end 2112disposed below the upper end 2111. Alternatively, the lower end 2112 ofthe upper slideway 211 may be in spatial communication with the upperend 2111 of the lower slideway 211. If this occurs, the slideway unitincludes only one C-shaped slideway. The movable assembly 2 furtherincludes a C-shaped sleeve portion 212 sleeved movably on the supportingrod 12, a first locking element 215 for locking the sleeve portion 212releaseably on the supporting rod 12, and a slot-defining portion 213connected fixedly to the sleeve portion 212 and formed with the upperand lower slideways 211. The first locking element 215 is configured asa lock bolt, and can be loosened to allow for vertical movement of thesleeve portion 212 on the supporting rod 12, as shown in FIG. 7. Theupper and lower slideways 211 are configured respectively as two slideslots. The slot-defining portion 213 includes a curved upper hollow body214 extending forwardly and upwardly from the sleeve portion 212, and acurved lower hollow body 214′ disposed under the upper hollow body 214and extending forwardly and downwardly from the sleeve portion 212. Eachof the slide slots 211 is formed through a corresponding one of theupper and lower hollow bodies 214, 214′, and extends along the length ofthe corresponding one of the upper and lower hollow bodies 214, 214′.The sliding member 22 has a main body 221. The main body 22 has upperand lower sides 2211, and two lateral sides 2212 opposite to each otherin a left-to-right direction. The sliding member 22 further has twospaced-apart engaging portions 222 slidable within the slideway unit ofthe mounting member 21 to adjust the inclination angle of the slidingmember 22 relative to the mounting member 21. Each of the engagingportions 222 is configured as a sliding rod that is connected betweentwo mounting portions 225 and that includes a bolt 223 extending along acorresponding one of the upper and lower sides 2211 and through acorresponding one of the upper and lower slideways 214, 214′ to engagethreadably one of the mounting portions 225, and two stepped washers 224sleeved on the bolt 223 and extending respectively and partially intothe corresponding one of the upper and lower slideways 214, 214′. Assuch, the sliding rods 222 can be locked respectively and releaseably onthe upper and lower hollow bodies 214, 214′.

The two side arms 3 are connected respectively and pivotally to thelateral sides 2212 of the sliding member 22, and extend from the slidingmember 22 away from each other. Each of the side arms 3 includes an armbody 30, a horizontal guide slot 31 formed through the arm body 30 andextending along a longitudinal direction of the arm body 30, a verticalpivot shaft 32 connected fixedly to an end of the arm body 30 andconnected pivotally to the sliding member 22 so as to allow forhorizontal rotation of the corresponding side arm 3 (see FIGS. 8 and 9)and co-movement of the corresponding side arm 3 with the sliding member22, and a position-limiting rib 33 extending from the pivot shaft 32toward the sliding member 22. The main body 221 of the sliding member 22further has two position-limiting grooves 226. The position-limitingribs 33 of the side arms 3 are rotatable respectively within theposition-limiting grooves 226 for limiting the rotational angle range ofthe side arms 3 relative to the sliding member 22.

The two movable connectors 4 are disposed respectively and movably onthe side arms 3. Each of the movable connectors 4 is movable within theguide slot 31 in the corresponding side arm 3 along a longitudinaldirection of the corresponding side arm 3. In this embodiment, each ofthe movable connectors 4 includes a supporting plate 41 adapted formounting a screen (not shown) thereon and in front thereof, a secondlocking element 42 configured as a lock bolt for locking thecorresponding movable connector 4 releaseably on the corresponding sidearm 3, and an insert element 43 connected fixedly to a rear side of thesupporting plate 41 and formed with a sliding block 431 movable withinthe corresponding guide slot 31. Each of the sliding blocks 431 of themovable connectors 4 is rectangular, and has a vertical width that isslightly smaller than that of the corresponding guide slot 31, so as toallow for smooth movement of the corresponding sliding block 431 withinthe corresponding guide slot 31, as shown in FIG. 10. The wire collector5 is disposed on the supporting rod 12 for permitting extension of wiresconnected to the screens.

As shown in FIG. 10, the movable connectors 4 can be operated to adjustthe distance between the screens or the horizontal positions of thescreens. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the side arms 3 can bepivoted relative to the sliding member 22 to adjust the distance betweenthe user and each of the screens. Further, the sliding member 22 can beoperated to move the sliding rods 222 within the slide slots 211,respectively, to adjust the inclination angle of the screens. Withparticular reference to FIG. 5, when the sliding rods 222 are disposedrespectively at the lower ends 2112 of the slide slots 211, upper endsof the movable connectors 4 are disposed behind lower ends of themovable connectors 4. In this state, the movable connectors 4 areinclined forwardly and downwardly. With particular reference to FIG. 6,when the sliding rods 222 are disposed respectively at the upper ends2111 of the slide slots 211, the upper ends of the movable connectors 4are disposed in front of the lower ends of the movable connectors 4. Inthis state, the movable connectors 4 are inclined forwardly andupwardly. With particular reference to FIG. 7, the mounting member 21can be moved on the supporting rod 12 to adjust the height of the twoscreens simultaneously.

FIG. 11 shows the second preferred embodiment of a screen supportingapparatus according to this invention, which is similar in constructionto the first preferred embodiment. Unlike the first preferredembodiment, the length of the main body 221 of the sliding member 22 isincreased, and a fixed connector 6 is disposed on the sliding member 22so as to allow for co-movement with the sliding member 22, whilepreventing horizontal movement relative to the sliding member 22. Thefixed connector 6 is adapted for mounting another screen. As such, threescreens can be supported by the second preferred embodiment.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the third preferred embodiment of a screensupporting apparatus according to this invention, which is also similarin construction to the first preferred embodiment. In this embodiment,the two side arms 3 (see FIG. 1) and the movable connectors 5 (seeFIG. 1) are omitted, and a connector plate 7 is added. The connectorplate 7 is disposed on the sliding member 22 for mounting a screen (notshown).

In view of the above, each of the movable connectors 4, the fixedconnector 6, and the connector plate 7 can be used to support a screen,such that the inclination angle of the screen can be adjusted. Thus, theobject of this invention is achieved.

With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerousmodifications and variations can be made without departing from thescope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that thisinvention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims.

1. A screen supporting apparatus comprising: a supporting memberincluding an upright supporting rod; and a movable assembly including amounting member disposed on said supporting rod and including a slidewayunit, a sliding member having two spaced-apart engaging portionsslidable within said slideway unit of said mounting member to adjust aninclination angle of said sliding member relative to said mountingmember; and a connector plate disposed on said sliding member andadapted for mounting a screen; wherein said slideway unit of saidmounting member includes a pair of curved upper and lower slideways eachhaving an upper end and a lower end disposed below said upper end, saidupper slideway being disposed above said lower slideway; wherein saidupper and lower slideways are configured respectively as two slide slotsformed through said mounting member; wherein said mounting memberfurther includes a slot-defining portion formed with said slide slots;wherein said slot-defining portion includes a curved upper hollow bodyextending forwardly and upwardly from said sleeve portion, and a curvedlower hollow body disposed under said upper hollow body and extendingforwardly and downwardly from said sleeve portion, each of said upperand lower hollow bodies being configured as a sleeve, each of said slideslots being formed through a corresponding one of said upper and lowerhollow bodies and extending along the length of the corresponding one ofsaid upper and lower hollow bodies.
 2. The screen supporting apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging portions of said slidingmember are slidable respectively along said upper and lower slideways ofsaid mounting member.
 3. The screen supporting apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said engaging portions of said sliding member areconfigured respectively as two sliding rods extending through said slideslots.
 4. The screen supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, whereinsaid mounting member further includes a sleeve portion sleeved movablyon said supporting rod, and a first locking element for locking saidsleeve portion releaseably on said supporting rod, said slot-definingportion being connected fixedly to said sleeve portion.
 5. The screensupporting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said slidingrods includes a bolt extending through a corresponding one of said slideslots, and two stepped washers sleeved on said bolt and extendingrespectively and partially into the corresponding one of said slideslots.
 6. The screen supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid supporting member further includes a base, said upright supportingrod disposed fixedly on and above said base.